(Photo Credit: Katie Stratman/USA Today Sports)
Key Players Returning:
RB Chris Rodriguez, WR/PR Josh Ali, OC Luke Fortner, OG Kenneth Horsey, OT Darian Kinnard, DE Josh Paschal, LB DeAndre Square, LB J.J. Weaver, LB Jordan Wright, CB Cedrick Dort, CB Quandre Mosely, FS Yusuf Corker, SS Tyrell Ajian, KR Zach Johnson, and PK Matt Ruffolo.
Key Players Departing:
QB Terry Wilson, RB Asim Rose, OC Drake Jackson, OT Landon Young, DT Phil Hoskins, LB Jamin Davis, LB Jamar Watson, CB Brandin Echols, CB Kelvin Joseph, and PT Matt Duffy.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: WR Wan’Dale Robinson (Nebraska transfer), OG Jager Burton (Lexington, Kentucky), LB Trevin Wallace (Jesup, Georgia), WR Dekel Crowdus (Lexington, Kentucky), and WR Christian Lewis (Pleasant Grove, Alabama).
3 Star Recruits: TE Jordan Dingle (Bowling Green, Kentucky), WR Chauncey Magwood (Leesburg, Georgia), OT Dare Rosenthal (LSU transfer), LB Martez Thrower (Rochelle, Georgia), and DE Jamarius Dinkins (Columbus, Ohio).
2020 Results:
G01 at #8 Auburn L 13-29
G02 OLE MISS L | OT 41-42
G03 MISSISSIPPI STATE W 24-2
G04 at #18 Tennessee W 34-7
G05 at Missouri L 10-20
G06 #5 GEORGIA L 3-14
G07 VANDERBILT W 38-35
G08 at #1 Alabama L 3-63
G09 at #6 Florida L 10-34
G10 SOUTH CAROLINA W 41-18
BOWL vs. #23 NC State W 23-21
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 5-6 (4th in SEC East)
Home: 3-2
Away: 1-4
Neutral: 1-0
SEC: 4-6
Non-SEC: 1-0
Head Coach: Mark Stoops
Kentucky: 49-50
Career: 49-50
Bowls: 3-2
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Joey Gatewood (17-35, 109 yards, 48.6%, 3.1 avg., 0 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: Chris Rodriguez (119 car., 785 yards, 6.6 avg., 11 TD)
Receiving: Josh Ali (54 rec., 473 yards, 8.8 avg., 1 TD)
TD’s Scored: Chris Rodriguez (11)
Sacks: Jordan Wright (3.5)
Tackles: Yusuf Corker (77)
Interceptions: Yusuf Corker (2)
Pass Deflections: Jordan Wright (4)
Tackles For Loss: Joshua Pachal/J.J. Weaver (6.5)
Forced Fumbles: Jordan Wright (3)
Kick Returns: Zach Johnson (11 ret., 228 yards, 20.7 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Josh Ali (6 ret., 63 yards, 10.3 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Matt Ruffalo (12-14 fg/fga., 86%, 22-23 xp/xpa., 58 pts.)
Punting: Colin Goodfellow (10 punts, 477 yards, 47.7 avg., 1 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 7 Will Levis (GR/TR)
RB: 24 Chris Rodriguez (RS JR)
WR: 6 Josh Ali (RS SR)
WR: 81 Isaiah Epps (SR)
WR: 1 Wan’Dale Robinson (JR/TR)
WR: 83 Justin Rigg (RS SR)
LT: 51 Dare Rosenthal (RS JR/TR)
LG: 68 Kenneth Horsey (RS JR)
OC: 79 Luke Fortner (RS SR)
RG: 75 Eli Cox (RS SO)
RT: 70 Darian Kinnard (SR)
KR: 28 Zach Johnson (RS SR)
PK: 96 Matt Ruffalo (RS SR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 4 Josh Paschal (RS SR)
NT: 50 Marquan McCall (SR)
DE: 94 Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald (RS SR)
LB: 15 Jordan Wright (RS SR)
LB: 10 Jacquez Jones (SR/TR)
LB: 5 DeAndre Square (SR)
LB: 9 Davonte Robinson (RS SR)
CB: 3 Cedrick Dort (RS SR)
CB: 14 Carrington Valentine (SO)
FS: 29 Yusuf Corker (RS SR)
SS: 23 Tyrell Ajian (RS SR)
PR: 1 Wan’Dale Robinson (JR/TR)
PT: 93 Wilson Berry (FR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: B
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/04 UL-MONROE WARHAWKS | Kentucky leads the series 4-1. The Wildcats won (48-14) the last meeting between schools in 2014.
09/11 MISSOURI TIGERS | Kentucky leads the series 7-4. The Wildcats are 5-4 since renewing the series in 2012, and their last series win (29-7) was in 2019.
09/18 CHATTANOOGA MOCS | First meeting between schools.
09/25 at South Carolina Gamecocks | Kentucky trails the series 13-18-1. The Wildcats are 6-4 since 2011, and their last series loss (7-24) was in 2019.
10/02 FLORIDA GATORS | Kentucky trails the series 18-53. The Wildcats are 1-9 since 2011, and their last series win (27-16) was in 2018.
10/09 LSU TIGERS | Kentucky trails the series 16-40-1. The Wildcats lost (3-41) the last meeting between schools in 2014.
10/16 at Georgia Bulldogs | Kentucky trails the series 12-60-2. The Wildcats are 0-10 since 2011, and their last series win (34-27) was in 2009.
10/30 at Mississippi State Bulldogs | Kentucky trails the series 23-25. The Wildcats are 3-7 since 2011, and their last series loss (13-28) was in 2019.
11/06 TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS | Kentucky trails the series 26-81-9. The Wildcats are 3-7 since 2011, and their last series loss (13-17) was in 2019.
11/13 at Vanderbilt Commodores | Kentucky leads the series 47-42-4. The Wildcats are 6-4 since 2011, and their last series loss (17-21) was in 2015.
11/20 NEW MEXCIO STATE AGGIES | Kentucky won (62-42) the only prior meeting between schools in 2016.
11/27 at Louisville Cardinals | Kentucky leads the series 17-15. The Wildcats are 3-6 since 2011, and their last series loss (17-44) was in 2017.
Predictions:
Home: 5-2
Away: 1-4
Neutral: 0-0
SEC: 3-5
Non-SEC: 3-1
Overall: 6-6 (3rd in SEC East)
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